Broom



Patented Dec. l, 1942 Unire 2 Claims.

This invention relates in general to heavy duty push brooms, and in particular the invention is directed to improvements in dairy or street type push brooms.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a heavy duty push broom which includes means to supply a constant and diffused flow of wat-er downward through the bristles of the broom duringuse thereof, whereby to expedite the brushing or scrubbing operation by ushing away the foreign material being swept.

Another object of the invention is to include in a heavy duty type push broom, guards which prevent the bristles at the end of the broom from cutting oi due to engagement with objects such as curbings, retaining walls, etc.

It is also an object of this invention to provide mea-ns cooperating with the bristles of a push broom to hold the bristles bunched together as desired, and whereby to prevent undue deiiection of the bristles and to assure even wear.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly eiective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specication and claims.

In the drawing similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a push broom embodying the invention.

'Figure 2 is a side elevation of the broom.

Figure 3 is a cross section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawing, the numeral I indicates the wooden cross head or block of a heavy duty push broom, from which depend longitudinally extending, transversely spaced rows of relatively long, stiff bristles 2; there preferably being an even number of rows of bristles. An upwardly and rearwardly inclined handle receiving opening 3 extends through block I from a point centrally between the front and rear edges of block I and between certain of the rows of bristles 2.

A tubular metallic handle 4 of substantial length extends at its lower end through opening 3 and immediately below block I is formed with a spray head or pipe 5 which abuts against the bottom or underside of cross block I, and is formed with a multiplicity of downwardly opening spray ports -6; such spray pipe being anixed of its sides by any suitable means such as screws 1. At its upper end the tubular handle 4 is fitted with a section of rubber' hose 8 which is held in' place rictionally, and wh-ich is provided at its outer end with a hose coupling member 3 adapted for connection with the cooperating hose "cou`A pling member I0 of a garden type hose II.

Intermediate its ends, the handle 4 is provided with a hand grip I2 which likewise is a section of rubber hose frictionally engaged on the handle. The sections of hose 18 and I2 snugly but removably engage the tubular handle 4 `whereby they may be withdrawn from such handle. The reason for this is so that after removal of said sections, the handle Il and transverse spray pipe 5 may be removed from a worn broom and replaced on a new broom.

At the ends, the broom is tted with inwardly facing channel shaped guards I3; the guards being vertical and the cross block I engaging into the upper end portions of said channel shaped guards, the latter depending from the block to a termination intermediate the ends of bristles 2. The guards I3 are slotted on opposite sides, as at III, and securing screws I5 extend through said slots into cross block I; such screws I5 normally securing the guards I3 and block I against relative movement. However, as the bristles wear down, the guards I3 may be raised relative to block I and to the extent necessary. It will be 'seen that the guards I3 are so formed and positioned to protect the endmost bristles above substantially the middle and prevent cutting oilD thereof.

Bristle stabilizing rods I6 extend between guards I3 in parallel relation to cross block vI but some distance therebelow; such rods I6 being rigidly attached to corresponding sides of said guards. These rods I6 maintain the rows of bristles 2 in compact relation, whereby the bristles cannot deect unduly and consequently tend to wear down evenly.

A flexible splash curtain I'I, preferably a sheet of rubber or the like, is attached to block I on the back side and depends therefrom to a termination atpits lower edge some distance short of the lower ends of bristles 2; the curtain extending or being held between the corresponding rod I6 and the adjacent row of bristles 2. This curtain is of a width substantially the distance between the rear sides of guards I3. When water is spraying downward from pipe 5, the splash curtain II prevents the water from being splashed rearwardly by the bristles onto the feet and legs of to cross block I lengthwise thereof and centrally the operator.

The improved broom structure hereinbefore described is of particular value for use in dairy barns and service stations, although its other uses are many, as will be obvious.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a devi-ce as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specication sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and vuseful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a push broom which includes a cross block and bristles depending therefrom; inwardly facing channel shaped bristle guards disposed Vertically at the ends of the broom, the cross block being rectangular in cross section and snugly seating in said channels, the sides of said guards being vertically slotted, and headed attachment elements extending through said slots into the cross block.

2. In a push type fountain broom which iticludes a cross block, bristles depending from the cross block, and means to supply water to the bristles; a flexible splash curtain of substantially the same width as the cross block secured on and depending from the back thereof, the lower edge of said curtain terminating adja-cent but short of the lower ends of said bristles, a horizontal element frictionally engaging said curtain on the outside for its full width along a line intermediate the upper and lower edges of said curtain, said element urging said curtain along the line of contact and generally therebelow into relatively close splash-preventing engagement with the bristles at the back of the broom; the block .being substantially rectangular in cross section and the broom including inwardly facing channel-shaped guards disposed vertically at the ends of the broom, the cross block snugly seating in said channels adjacent the upper end thereof and said element rigidly connecting with corresponding sides of the guards.

ROBER'I'1 C. LOGAN. 

